Chapter 217
Chapter 217
“Nick, this whole thing is starting to feel off,” Brent muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“Sure, a bunch of people have been digging around lately, but it’s either the Baxter family, the Vance family, or people tied to both. What the hell does Solar have to do with any of this?”
It was a fair question. The moment someone from Solar got involved, everything took on a more sinister edge.
Nicholas frowned in thought. Brent was right–what reason would they have to investigate the mastermind behind the attack?
It didn’t add up.
He set his phone down and changed the subject. “What about the background check from the house visits?”
“Preliminary report’s in. There’s something off. Karen apparently used someone else’s identity to enroll at the academy under the Pierce family’s branch. The Pierces aren’t planning to press charges.”
“And beyond that?”
“Nothing. I said it before–that whole house visit idea was airtight. Who knows what they’re really after?”
a
waste of time. If Solar Flare wanted to plant someone, they’d make sure the setup was
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “Forging family records isn’t exactly easy.”
“True. But what if this wasn’t some last–minute switch? What if they started laying the groundwork years ago?”
“That’s one possibility,” Nicholas replied and then added with deliberate calm, “The other is that she never needed to fake anything–because she actually is a legitimate heir from some obscure branch. That’s why we couldn’t find anything wrong.”
Brent’s eyes widened. He clapped his hands together in realization. “Damn. That makes a lot more sense.”
Faking a background to fool the Academy’s strict vetting? Nearly impossible. Which meant either this was years in the making–or she was the real deal.
With the Academy expanding its admissions this year to include smaller families, it wasn’t far–fetched to think that someone like Solar had simply
slipped through.
‘And if Solar really is some bitter offshoot from a minor house… then maybe she came here not just to stir things up–but to settle a score with Nick.’
Brent looked Nicholas dead in the eye. “You better be careful. For all we know, she’s biding her time to take you out.”
Nicholas‘ voice was ice. “Then I’ll get to her before she gets to me.”
Gone was the gentlemanly charm–replaced with something colder, sharper. Only those closest to Nicholas knew this side of him even existed.
Brent gave a grim nod. “And make sure you protect Sharon. Your old rival coming back from the shadows? Who knows what she’d do? I heard it’s a she, by the way.”
Nicholas‘ jaw tightened. That was a real concern.
“I want to find the mastermind before she does,” Nicholas said. “And then I want to use them to bait her into a trap.”
Whatever this was, he was going to end it before it reached Academy grounds.
He’d been willing to be patient, wait it out. But now? He wasn’t waiting anymore.
Sharon couldn’t afford even the slightest risk.
1/3
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Chapter 217
“I’ll make the arrangements,” Brent offered.
“No. I’m handling this personally.”
Nicholas stood, the hard edge of his profile catching the light. Once he made a move, I
later.
And if she was connected to this…
he didn’t miss. If he let Solar get away now, it would only get worde
Then there was a good chance she was hunting the mastermind not to expose them–but to silence them.
Brent watched him in stunned silence. The swamp investigation wasn’t even over, and Nick was already pivoting for personal reasons?
‘Unbelievable. The man’s actually bailing on
Iduty for a girl.‘
A smirk tugged at Brent’s mouth.
‘So even Nick changes when he falls in love. Classic. Me?
He was, of course, very wrong.
let that happen.‘
When it came to the woman in his life, there was only ever one rule–she came first.
Meanwhile, word of the mastermind’s identity had already leaked across the black market.
With so many different factions searching, the person in question was forced into hiding–and regretting every decision that led them here.
‘All this for a quick payday. What the hell was I thinking?‘
Desperate, they contacted the Hunter Forum and purchased a full cover package–protection and extraction included. All they wanted now was to disappear.
The Forum didn’t disappoint. Within hours, agents had swept in and whisked them away. Any trace of their presence was erased.
The Baxter family got word first. Arnold narrowed his eyes. “Keep searching. Reach out to the Forum’s admin team if you have to. I want that person. I don’t care what it costs–make them an offer.”
Nicholas received the news next–the mastermind had vanished,
Only one organization had the power and resources to hide someone so completely–Hunter Forum.
He ground his teeth. “Activate our embedded contact at the Forum. I want the location of that target.”
Brent hesitated. “Nick… are you sure? That contact isn’t easy
$483se. If they pass along info now, they could get burned.”
“So what? I didn’t spend all this time keeping them in place just to let them sit there. If not now, then when?”
Brent said nothing.
‘Noted. Very O.K. Very intense.‘
Nicholas pulled on a pair of black gloves, his expression utterly unreadable. His voice was low and cold. “This time, we’re bringing in the mastermind-
no matter what it takes.”
‘And while we’re at it… let’s put Solar Flare in the ground too.
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